Motivation / Starting Point
The targets of future exploration missions cover among other things the construction and supply of outpost and the exploration of local phenomena on moons, planets and asteroids. In current plans, above all the moon is the target of exploration missions with the requirements specified above. A very important requirement for the execution of these missions is the ability of a precise and safe landing on these luminaries. A successful landing causes however the exact knowledge of the own position during the entire approach flight.
The momentarily used methods for determination of position are based on earthbound radio measurements and do not possess the exactness necessary for a precise landing. Moreover, they are afflicted with delays (distance earth – moon) and are not always available (position behind the moon). Thus results in a need for new technologies which can cope with such problems. A very promising beginning is the orientation by surface characteristics of the goal body. This can be achieved by the use of illustrating optical systems e. g. cameras or LIDARs.
A new, camera-based navigation sensor is developed in the department of navigation and control. As first application the development of demonstration hardware of an optical navigation system for the precise landing on the moon is intended. The development objective is an autonomous positioning in the moon orbit and during approach flight with an unequalled accuracy of a few hundred meters. On the moon there is a multiplicity of craters which will be filed with exactness by up to 10 meters within the next years. The sensor which needs to be developed is supposed to utilize this and apply constellations of craters for orientation. The planned work routine of the sensor is arranged as follows:
To support the development work the laboratory for Lander-Navigation is set up at present.